BOSTON
ÛÓ Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia has been named the winner of the 2014
Boston Marathon, following the disqualification of Rita Jeptoo from the
event. Deba finished in a time of 2:19:59. As a result, she becomes the
course record holder. Her performance bested that of Margaret Okayo, who
ran 2:20:43 in 2002.

On
April 21, 2014, the 26-year-old Deba and a lead pack of women set a
blistering pace from the line in Hopkinton, remaining at least 45
seconds faster than the checkpoint times of Okayo in 2002. After 25
kilometers, Deba ran even faster and put the remaining competitors in
her wake. In what stands as the fastest women’s race in Boston Marathon
history, the top three women beat Okayo’s mark, and Deba’s performance
is the only women’s sub-2:20 performance in race history. In sixth place
was Shalane Flanagan, who ran the fastest time ever by an American
woman in Boston in 2:22:02, good for ninth fastest all-time.

“I
feel great and really happy being named the 2014 Boston Marathon
champion, the most prestigious marathon in the world, and I encourage
all concerned stakeholders to work on a clean sport,” said Deba, who
lives in the Bronx with her husband and coach, Worku Beyi.

Deba,
a constant member of the John Hancock Elite Athlete Team in the Boston
Marathon, finished third in the 2015 with a time of 2:25:09 and seventh
in the 2016 race with a time of 2:33:56. She has finished second in the
TCS New York City Marathon twice. Her 2014 victory set her personal
record by more than three minutes.

“Buzunesh
Deba’s sub-2:20 performance in 2014 was a magnificent achievement,”
recalled B.A.A. Chief Executive Officer Tom Grilk. “To emerge victorious
in the fastest women’s race ever run in Boston was remarkable. We look
forward to awarding her the praise she rightfully deserves in 2017.”

Originally
from Asella, Ethiopia, Deba moved to New York City in 2006. It has not
yet been announced if she will compete in the 2017 Boston Marathon.

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Established in 1887,
the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a
mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially
running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual
marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports
comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since
1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock
Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors,
along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago,
and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A.
events in 2017. The 121st Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.